E-safety information

You don't need to be a technical expert to protect your child on the internet. Below are some very simple steps to get you started.

Talk to your child about the websites that they use. By understanding and involving yourself in their internet use, you're helping to keep them safe.

Be positive about the internet and remember that it is a fantastic learning and communication tool.

Try not to overreact to minor issues. If your child worries that you may take away their internet access, they could become secretive and hide problems from you.

Keep PCs, laptops and games consoles out of bedrooms wherever possible. Having the laptop in a family room makes it easier for you to monitor your child's internet use, whilst still giving them privacy.

Set boundaries in the on-line world just as you would in the real world. Set clear ground rules and expectations for your child's on-line behaviour. If they understand what is and isn't acceptable, it may help them to navigate any problems in the future.

Make sure all devices that connect to the internet have parental controls to help you set appropriate boundaries. Find your service provider and learn how to set your controls.

If a games console or PC is used for on-line gaming, be aware that your child may be chatting to people on-line; make sure they are adequately supervised.

Make sure that you are in control of the privacy settings for any of the on-line apps being used by your child. These need to be checked regularly to ensure that they are at the highest setting. (See NSPCC Share Aware site – link below)

Thank you to the parents that attended our online safety workshop for parents with the NSPCC. Here is a link to the 'Safeguarding across the ages' document Kathryn referred to.

The UK Safer Internet Centre has created a comprehensive list of safety features for a range of apps. Take a look for advice on safetDigital Parenting magazine.pdfy features for Instagram, WhatsApp, Snapchat and more!